Begonia plant named ‘Innbellpea’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘Innbellpea’, characterized by its compact and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; numerous double flowers that are light apricot in color; and tolerance to Powdery Mildew.

Botanical designation: Begonia×tuberhybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Innbellpea’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begoniaplant, botanically known as Begonia×tuberhybrida and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Innbellpea’.

The new Begonia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Gensingen, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program was to develop new compact Tuberhybrida Begoniacultivars with attractive double flowers.

The new Begonia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in January, 2005 of a proprietary selection ofBegonia×tuberhybrida identified as code number B 04 3-56, not patented,as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofBegonia×tuberhydrida identified as code number B 04 3-91, not patented,as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Begonia was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single plant from within the progeny ofthe stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment inGensingen, Germany in September, 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by vegetative cuttings ina controlled greenhouse environment in Gensingen, Germany since October,2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Begonia plant arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Innbellpea’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Innbellpea’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofBegonia:

-   -   1. Compact and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Numerous double flowers that are light apricot in color.    -   5. Tolerant to Powdery Mildew.

Plants of the new Begonia differ from plants of the female parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are more compact than plants of the        female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Begonia are more freely branching than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Begonia are double whereas        flowers of plants of the female parent selection are        semi-double.    -   4. Plants of the new Begonia and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection        have soft pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia differ from plants of the male parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are more upright than and not as        trailing as plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Begonia are double whereas        flowers of plants of the male parent selection are semi-double.    -   3. Plants of the new Begonia and the male parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection        have soft pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can also be compared to plants of theBegonia×tuberhybrida ‘Lorelei’, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Gensingen, Germany, plants of the new Begoniadiffered from plants of ‘Lorelei’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia were more vigorous than plants of        ‘Lorelei’.    -   2. Plants of the new Begonia were more freely branching than        plants of ‘Lorelei’.    -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Begonia were lighter green in        color than leaves of plants of ‘Lorelei’.    -   4. Plants of the new Begonia and ‘Lorelei’ differed in flower        color as plants of ‘Lorelei’ had dark orange-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Begonia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Begonia plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘Innbellpea’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of typicalflowers and leaves of ‘Innbellpea’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTIONS

Plants used for the aforementioned photographs and followingobservations and measurements were grown in Carleton, Mich. inone-gallon containers and under commercial practice under partial shadein an outdoor nursery during the late summer. During the production ofthe plants, day temperatures ranged from 26° C. to 29° C., nighttemperatures ranged from 13° C. to 21° C. and light levels ranged from6,000 to 7,000 foot-candles. Plants used for the photographs and thedescription were twelve weeks from planting. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia×tuberhybrida ‘Innbellpea’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Begonia×tuberhybrida identified as code number B 04 3-56,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Begonia×tuberhybrida identified as code number B 04 3-91,            not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 7 to 10 days at            temperatures of about 18° C. to 24° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 9 to 14 days at            temperatures of about 18° C. to 24° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four            weeks at temperatures of about 18° C. to 24° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five            weeks at temperatures of about 18° C. to 24° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color. Plants of            the new Begonia have not been observed to form tubers.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact and mounded plant habit;            freely branching with about six to seven branches per plant;            dense and bushy growth habit; moderately vigorous growth            habit.        -   Plant height.—About 16 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 18 cm by 20 cm.        -   Branch description: Length: About 14 cm. Diameter: About            5 mm. Internode length: About 2 cm. Texture: Sparsely            pubescent. Color: Close to 148A.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:            About 12.8 cm. Width: About 4.5 cm. Shape: Narrowly elliptic            to narrowly cordate; asymmetrical. Apex: Acute. Base:            Asymmetrically cordate. Margin: Bi-serrate. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Venation pattern:            Palmate; reticulate. Color: Developing leaves, upper            surface: Close to 146A. Developing leaves, lower surface:            Close to 181A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close            to 139A; venation, close to 147B. Fully expanded leaves,            lower surface: Close to 147B tinted with close to 181A to            181B; venation, close to 147B to 147C. Petiole length: About            2 cm. Petiole diameter: About 3 mm. Petiole texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent. Petiole color, upper            surface: Close to 148A. Petiole color, lower surface: Close            to 199C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Rounded sterile double flowers; flowers            axillary. Freely flowering habit with about seven to ten            flowers and flower buds per lateral branch. Flowers            outwardly drooping.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously during            the spring and summer in Germany. Flowers last about three            to five days on the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Shape: Oval. Length: About 2 cm. Diameter:            About 1.1 cm. Color: Close to 35B.        -   Flowers.—Diameter: About 5.4 cm. Depth (height): About 3.6            cm.        -   Tepals.—Arrangement: Rosette. Quantity per flower: About 98            per flower arranged in ten to twelve whorls. Length, largest            tepals: About 3.5 cm. Width, largest tepals: About 8 mm.            Shape: Ligulate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            velvety. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 37B.            When opening, lower surface: Close to 39B. Fully opened,            upper surface: Close to 38B to 38C; color becoming closer to            38C to 38D with development. Fully opened, lower surface:            Close to 37A to 37C; color becoming closer to 37B to 37D            with development.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity/arrangement: Two, opposite. Length:            About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex:            Acute. Base: Rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface:            Close to 29B to 29C. Color, lower surface: Close to 30A to            30B.        -   Peduncles.—Angle: About 45° from the stem axis. Length:            About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 145C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: None observed. Pistils: None            observed.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production have not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance/tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have    been observed to have good tolerance to Powdery Mildew.    Resistance/tolerance to pests and other pathogens common to Begonia    has not been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed    to tolerate temperatures from about 5° C. to about 35° C.

1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘Innbellpea’ as illustratedand described.